Axfood AB
Axfood AB (publ) is a Swedish public limited company (publikt aktiebolag) registered in Sweden under registration number 556542-0824, with its registered office in Stockholm. Registry-sourced data reports the company as first registered on 7 May 1997, with a current company status of active. Axfood AB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker AXFO.
Axfood AB is the parent company of the Axfood Group, a Swedish grocery-retail group operating several retail and wholesale formats. Willys is a discount grocery chain; Hemköp is a full-range grocery chain that also encompasses the smaller-format Tempo stores; City Gross combines food-hall and hypermarket concepts and became a wholly owned part of the group on 1 November 2024; and Snabbgross is a restaurant and foodservice wholesaler. Dagab AB is responsible for group-wide assortment, purchasing, logistics and product development, including private-label ranges such as Garant and Eldorado, and also supplies independently run retailer concepts trading as Handlar’n and Matöppet. The group additionally holds a minority interest in Apohem, an online pharmacy. Group operations are concentrated in Sweden, with an additional operating presence in Norway.
For the 2025 financial year, the Axfood Group reported consolidated net sales of SEK 89,152 million, up 6.1% on the prior year, according to its year-end report published on 29 January 2026. Average headcount for 2025 was approximately 15,620 full-time employees on a Group basis. In its interim report for the first quarter of 2026, the Group reported net sales of SEK 21,595 million and an operating margin of 3.7%.
Material recent developments include the completion, on 1 November 2024, of Axfood’s acquisition of the remaining shares in City Gross Sverige AB, increasing its holding from 9.9% to 100% following clearance by the Swedish Competition Authority in October 2024. At its Annual General Meeting on 18 March 2026, Axfood resolved a dividend of SEK 9.00 per share, payable in two instalments during 2026, and approved a new long-term, share-based incentive programme for senior executives and key personnel.
These operating and financial figures are reported on a consolidated Axfood Group basis rather than for Axfood AB as a standalone legal entity; separate unconsolidated financial statements for the legal entity were not identified in this research.
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- Digitized company financials
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Shareholders
5
Shareholders of Axfood AB
Axfood AB (publ) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, and its shareholder register is not fully public beyond disclosed major holders. The controlling shareholder is Axel Johnson AB, which holds its stake through its holding company AxRetail AB; recent third-party share-register data reports this holding at approximately 50.1% of both capital and votes, a position that has remained broadly stable in recent years. The remaining shares, representing just under half of the company, are widely distributed among Swedish and international institutional and private investors, none of which individually holds more than a low single-digit percentage. Examples reported in recent share-register data include Nordea Investment Management, Swedbank Robur Funds, Norges Bank Investment Management, Cliens Kapitalförvaltning and ODIN Forvaltning. Ahead of the 2026 Annual General Meeting, Axfood’s Nominating Committee reported that its four constituent shareholders together represented approximately 58.7% of votes and capital in the company as of 29 August 2025.
Data availability
Shareholder information for Axfood AB is available on a major-shareholders-only basis, consistent with disclosure practice for Nasdaq Stockholm-listed companies. The full register of smaller holders below reporting thresholds is not published, and individual minor-holder percentages may vary slightly between data providers and snapshot dates.
Sources
- Bolagsfakta (Bolagsverket-sourced registry data), Axfood AB — https://www.bolagsfakta.se/5565420824-Axfood_AB
- MarketScreener, Axfood AB shareholders — https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/AXFOOD-AB-21808940/company-shareholders/ (retrieved 15 September 2026)
- Axfood, Notice of Axfood’s 2026 Annual General Meeting — https://www.axfood.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/02/notice-of-axfoods-2026-annual-general-meeting/
- Ratsit.se, AxRetail AB company record — https://www.ratsit.se/5560392226-AxRetail_AB
| Shareholder | Type | Holding | Source Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| VANGUARD TAX-MANAGED FUNDS-Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund | 9.7% | Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) | |
| iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 5.9% | Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) | |
| iShares Trust-iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF | 4% | Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) | |
| SCHWAB STRATEGIC TRUST-Schwab International Equity ETF | 2.4% | Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) | |
| Legato Capital Management LLC | 0.1% | Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) |
Officers
5
Directors and officers of Axfood AB
Axfood AB’s Board of Directors comprises seven directors elected by the Annual General Meeting, together with employee-representative directors and deputies appointed under Swedish co-determination rules. Following the Annual General Meeting held on 18 March 2026, the AGM-elected board is chaired by Caroline Berg, with Björn Annwall, Mia Brunell Livfors, Christian Luiga, Peter Ruzicka, Kristofer Tonström and Sara Öhrvall serving as directors; a prior director, Fabian Bengtsson, did not stand for re-election and left the board at that meeting. Axfood’s President and CEO, Simone Margulies, is not a member of the Board but attends Board meetings in a reporting capacity; she was appointed CEO in April 2024 and assumed the role on 15 August 2024, succeeding Klas Balkow. Nationality and country of residence for individual board members were not disclosed in the sources reviewed. Older officer records associated with this company profile predate the current board and were not used in this overview; only currently disclosed appointments are reflected here.
Recent officer changes
- 18 March 2026 — Fabian Bengtsson left the Board of Directors after declining re-election at the Annual General Meeting. Source: Axfood, Resolutions at Axfood’s 2026 Annual General Meeting.
- 15 August 2024 — Simone Margulies assumed the role of President and CEO, succeeding Klas Balkow. Source: Axfood press release, 15 August 2024.
Data availability
Board composition is disclosed on a current-only basis through Axfood’s corporate governance materials and Annual General Meeting resolutions. Detailed appointment dates, nationality and country of residence for individual directors were not publicly disclosed in the sources reviewed.
Sources
- Axfood, Resolutions at Axfood’s 2026 Annual General Meeting — https://www.axfood.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/03/resolutions-at-axfoods-2026-annual-general-meeting/
- Axfood, The Board’s work — https://www.axfood.com/investors/corporate-governance/the-boards-work/
- Axfood, Simone Margulies appointed new President and CEO of Axfood — https://www.axfood.com/newsroom/press-releases/2024/04/simone-margulies-appointed-new-president-and-ceo-of-axfood/
- Axfood, Simone Margulies today assumes the role as President and CEO of Axfood — https://www.axfood.com/newsroom/press-releases/2024/08/simone-margulies-today-assumes-the-role-as-president-and-ceo-of-axfood/
Group Structure
Group structure of Axfood AB
Axfood AB (publ) is part of the Axel Johnson group of companies. Its immediate parent is AxRetail AB (registration number 556039-2226), a Swedish holding company, which is itself controlled by Axel Johnson AB (registration number 556223-6959), the ultimate identified parent. Axel Johnson AB, through AxRetail AB, holds approximately 50.1% of Axfood AB’s shares and votes; the balance is held by public shareholders through Axfood AB’s listing on Nasdaq Stockholm. Axfood AB is itself the parent of a group of Swedish operating companies carrying out its retail and wholesale activities, including Dagab AB (purchasing, logistics and product development) and Willys AB (discount grocery retail), and, since 1 November 2024, wholly owns City Gross Sverige AB. Axfood also holds a minority interest in Apohem, an online pharmacy operated as an affiliate. Group operations are concentrated in Sweden, with an additional operating presence in Norway.
Verified corporate relationships
| Entity | Country | Registration number | Relationship | Ownership | Status | Information date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axel Johnson AB | Sweden | 556223-6959 | Ultimate parent | Not disclosed at this level | Active | September 2026 |
| AxRetail AB | Sweden | 556039-2226 | Immediate parent | ~50.1% of Axfood AB (via Axel Johnson AB) | Active | September 2026 |
| Dagab AB | Sweden | — | Direct subsidiary | Ownership percentage not disclosed | Active | September 2026 |
| Willys AB | Sweden | — | Direct subsidiary | Ownership percentage not disclosed | Active | September 2026 |
| City Gross Sverige AB | Sweden | — | Direct subsidiary | 100% (since 1 November 2024) | Active | September 2026 |
| Apohem | Sweden | — | Affiliate (minority interest) | Ownership percentage not disclosed | Active | September 2026 |
Recent structural changes
- 1 November 2024 — Axfood completed the acquisition of the remaining shares in City Gross Sverige AB, increasing its holding from 9.9% to 100%, following approval by the Swedish Competition Authority in October 2024. Source: Axfood press releases, June and October 2024.
Data availability
Axfood AB’s group structure is disclosed on a partial basis. The ultimate and immediate parent are independently verifiable through Swedish company-registry aggregators, and the City Gross acquisition is confirmed through Axfood’s own announcements. Registration numbers for individual operating subsidiaries (Dagab AB, Willys AB, City Gross Sverige AB, Apohem) were not independently corroborated from an external registry source and are therefore omitted from the table above; these entities are named on Axfood’s official group organisation page.
Sources
- Ratsit.se, AxRetail AB company record — https://www.ratsit.se/5560392226-AxRetail_AB
- Merinfo.se, AxRetail AB board and group — https://www.merinfo.se/foretag/AxRetail-AB-5560392226/2jyii3m-agjw/styrelse-koncern
- Axfood, Organisation — https://www.axfood.com/about-axfood/organization/
- Axfood, Axfood acquires City Gross — https://www.axfood.com/newsroom/press-releases/2024/06/axfood-acquires-city-gross/
- Axfood, Axfood’s acquisition of City Gross approved by the Swedish Competition Authority — https://www.axfood.com/newsroom/press-releases/2024/10/axfoods-acquisition-of-city-gross-approved-by-the-swedish-competition-authority/
Axel Johnson AB
Sweden
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Axfood AB do?
Axfood AB is a Swedish grocery-retail group headquartered in Stockholm, operating the Willys, Hemköp, City Gross and Snabbgross retail and wholesale chains together with Dagab, its purchasing, logistics and product-development company.
Who owns Axfood AB?
Axel Johnson AB, via its holding company AxRetail AB, holds approximately 50.1% of Axfood AB's shares and votes; the remaining shares are widely held by Swedish and international institutional investors, none individually holding more than a low single-digit percentage.
Who is Axfood AB's UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner)?
No individual ultimate beneficial owner with a verified, calculable effective ownership percentage was identified; the controlling shareholder, Axel Johnson AB, is a privately held company associated with the Ax:son Johnson family.
What is Axfood AB's company registration number?
Axfood AB's registration number is 5565420824, filed with Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) in Sweden. Its current status on the register is active.
Is Axfood AB still an active company?
Axfood AB's status on Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) is listed as active.
When was Axfood AB incorporated?
Axfood AB was incorporated on 1 January 1997, according to Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket).
What is Axfood AB's registered address?
The registered address on file for Axfood AB is Stockholm, Sweden.
What legal structure is Axfood AB registered as?
Axfood AB is registered as a Private limited company (Ltd.) in Sweden.
What is Axfood AB's revenue?
The Axfood Group reported consolidated net sales of SEK 89,152 million for the 2025 financial year (up 6.1% year-on-year), with average headcount of approximately 15,620 full-time employees, per its year-end report published 29 January 2026.
Is Axfood AB listed on a stock exchange?
Axfood AB (publ) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker AXFO.
Who are the officers/directors of Axfood AB?
The Board of Directors, re-elected at the Annual General Meeting on 18 March 2026, is chaired by Caroline Berg; Simone Margulies serves as President and CEO.
Does Axfood AB have a parent company or subsidiaries?
Axfood AB is majority-controlled by Axel Johnson AB through AxRetail AB and operates subsidiaries including Dagab AB, Willys AB and City Gross Sverige AB (wholly owned since 1 November 2024).
Can Zavia monitor changes to Axfood AB's ownership over time?
This profile reflects a point-in-time snapshot from Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket). Zavia's monitoring API can track changes to Axfood AB's registered shareholders, officers, and group structure going forward, flagging updates as they're filed rather than requiring a manual recheck.
Can I access Axfood AB's data through an API?
Yes. Zavia's API connects directly to official government ownership registries across 195 countries and territories, including Sweden, so records like Axfood AB's registration, shareholder, UBO, and group-structure data can be queried programmatically instead of viewed one page at a time.
Where does this company information come from, and how current is it?
This record is sourced directly from Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) and was last synced on 15 September 2026.